Kasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi

Karnataka, Gadag, Bengaluru

The Kasivisvesvara temple is located in Lakkundi, in the Gadag district of Karnataka state, India. It is 11 km from Gadag city, 24 km from Dambal and about 50 km from Kuknur. It is considered as one of the most ornate temples in the Kannada spoken region of India. The centre of cultural and temple-building activity of the Western Chalukya Empire lay in the Tungabhadra river region, where large medieval workshops built numerous monuments. These monuments, regional variants of pre-existing dravida (South Indian) temples, defined the Karnata dravida tradition. Lakkundi in particular was the location of the mature phase of the Western Chalukya architecture, and the Kasivisvesvara temple marks a high point of these achievements.

Architecture

This is a double shrined temple. The shrine facing east is dedicated to Kasivisvesvara whose universal symbol, a linga, stands three feet tall in the sanctum. The other shrine, which faces the main shrine is dedicated to the sun god Surya and is called Suryanarayana. The Surya shrine faces west. On both sides of the southern doorway are four inner bands of scrolls which run up the sides and around the lower part of the entablature above. Next to these bands, on either side, in the centre, are tall columns or pilasters supporting the lower cornice above. Beyond these columns, on either side, are four more bands of decorative mouldings. On the lintel of the doorway is a dedicatory block containing an image of Gaja-Lakshmi with an elephant on either side. The doorway to the shrine rivals the exterior ones in finish. The dedicatory block on the lintel has an image of Gaja-Lakshmi and her elephants. Above the cornice is a procession of men and animals. These images, which are barely six inches tall, include horsemen and musicians. The finial (kalasha) and the capping structure of the tower is missing.

Picture courtesy : commons.wikimedia.org

Darsan Info

Temple timings : 6:00 AM To 6:30 PM

Darsan Dresscode

Clean and conservative clothing is preferred.

Culture

Gadag has been a important seat of Hindustani music and known for historical hindu temples. The climate of the peace is motivational and peace loving surrounded by green trees and hill stations.